Feb 12, 2015

I had been struggling to come up with something for my Valentine's nails, but decided to stick with some tried and true themes: pink and hearts! Add a polka dot style pattern and glitter and voilà! Instant Valentine's Day nails.

1. 1 coat of ORLY Bonder base coat
2. 1 coat of OPI Bubble Bath on my index and middle finger and 2 coats of Sinful Colors Pink Foreveron the other nails.
3. I used Pink Forever and painted heart shaped tips on my index and middle fingers. Rinse and repeat, this needs 2 coats to be even.
4. I put 1 coat of Sinful ColorsPinky Glitter over Pink Forever to give it some extra sparkle.
5. I then used a toothpick and white acrylic paint to trace around the heart shapes on my index and middle fingers.
6. I attempted something I've never done before, which is using a toothpick to make little hearts and did a polka dot style on my ring and pinky fingers. You do 2 dots next to each other and then draw them both down in a v and connect them to make a heart. It's quite simple and looks cute!
7. I drew a heart on my thumb with the white acrylic paint.
8. Waited a few minutes to let the acrylic paint dry a little and then applied 1 coat of KB Shimmer Clearly on Top top coat applied generously to avoid smearing the nail art.

I'm really loving this, since it appeals to my love for all things pink and cute. I'm definitely doing the polka dot hearts again, since it's easy (although time consuming!) and acrylic paint just makes it that much easier. Whether this will last until Valentine's Day is another story, but if I get bored, I might just come up with something cuter :p

Feb 10, 2015

If you haven't read my posts on the System Hinoki set for fine, thin or thinning hair, you can check them out here. I really like the whole system and this very generous giveaway is for $80 worth of product! It is open within the US only and ends on Feb 24th, so get cracking and enter!!

Hayashi Worldwide, is offering a chance for one lucky winner to win System Hinoki, a boxed set of four haircare products formulated to improve the condition of both hair and scalp. Retail value: $80.

WHAT IT IS

System Hinoki is a set of four haircare products, made in the USA, by Hayashi Worldwide, consisting of a shampoo, conditioner, leave in scalp conditioner, and leave in body booster. The products are meant to be used together regularly (during every hair/scalp cleansing) over the long-term to provide cleansing, healing, and nutrition to both hair and scalp.

WHO SHOULD USE IT

Men and women, with any hair texture (curly, straight, thick, or fine), suffering from thinning hair, hair loss, slow-to-grow hair, or dandruff, will all benefit from using System Hinoki products on a regular basis.

WHAT’S IN IT

The key ingredient in the System Hinoki products is Pure Hinoki Oil, or “Chamaecyparis Obtusa Oil.” This is a unique ingredient, known for its natural antifungal and antibacterial qualities, is not found in many haircare products today, however it has been used for over 2,000 years in Japan and other parts of Asia to treat different types of skin ailments. The shampoo and conditioner also include Retinyl Palmitate, a form of Vitamin A and one of the primary antioxidants found naturally in skin; it is FDA approved and used to stimulate cell renewal and enhance skin elasticity. Unlike many other products marketed to hair growth, System Hinoki is drug free so safe to use for long-term results!

WHAT RESULTS CAN BE EXPECTED

System Hinoki products’ unique formulations have been trusted by salon professionals since 1985 and have recently been re-launched for use at home. When the products are used together, the complete system promotes hair strength, volume, and scalp therapy, resulting in weight-free hair, improved hair texture, and a clean scalp that promotes healthy hair growth.*

* Note that no product can bring dead hair follicles back to life, but many people with hair loss simply have hair follicles that are still alive and in the dormant stage.

HOW TO USE THE PRODUCTS

The order in which you should use the System Hinoki products is 1. Shampoo, 2. Conditioner, 3. Hinoki Plus (leave-in scalp conditioner), 4. Hair Thickener (leave-in body booster). For best results, use all four products every time you cleanse and condition your hair. If your scalp begins to itch, only use the Hinoki Plus every third use of the other products. The shampoo and conditioner are used the same as any other wash out shampoo and conditioner. The Hinoki Plus should be applied to damp hair, directly on the scalp, by separating hair with fingers or a comb and spraying directly onto the scalp, then repeating until adequate coverage is achieved. Then, use your fingertips (never fingernails!) to massage the product further into the scalp. Finally, while hair is still damp, apply the Hair Thickener by squirting a generous amount into the palm of your hand, then rubbing your hands together and apply to hair from root to ends, working it in for full coverage of the lengths of your hair. Style as usual.

Note: Hayashi Worldwide makes other product lines that are meant to work in combination with the System Hinoki products for those who experience other hair concerns other than just hair thinning. They should be used as complete sets after every third application of System Hinoki. The Repair Zone system should be used by those with naturally very curly to kinky hair in need of added hydration. System 911 should be used by those who need added protein, due to styling damage, such as relaxers or heat from regular blow drying or flat ironing. System Design is a great option for styling fine/thin hair in need of additional body and shine.

Feb 9, 2015

Is it Summer yet??? I wanted to share these screaming hot neon orange and textured teal nails with you, even though it's totally not seasonally appropriate ;) I'm sooooo ready for the beach!

The polishes I used are China Glaze Seahorsin' Around and ORLY Tropical Pop. 2 coats of Seahorsin' Around with no top coat and 2 coats of Tropical Pop over a coat of white (to really make it "pop"!) plus top coat. I did the dots with a dotting tool and I'm loving the effect! The contrast between the texture and the smooth creme polish is to die for.

I hope you like this look, even if it's not quite beach weather in many places yet.

Dec 31, 2014

I haven't been in much of a holiday mood when it comes to my nails, but New Year's is a theme I can definitely get down with. Blingy and dramatic are what I think of when NYE rolls around and this black, white and silver combo will add that extra pop to a dressy outfit. I had seen a manicure in one of my facebook nail polish groups which had these pretty white 3D bows and I decided I had to incorporate them somehow into my NYE nails. Working around the bows, I arrived at this extra sparkly look.

I used a few different polishes to achieve this, the black is China Glaze Liquid Leather, the white is China Glaze White on White, the silver holo is Orly Mirrorball (my favourite silver polish to date!) and the glitter is OPI I Snow You Love Me, which I fished out and placed on the nail. CG Liquid Leather and ORLY Mirrorball have to be two of the best polishes I've used lately.The are both gorgeous and go on beautifully. The bows I got in a Secret Santa swap. but you can easily find them on ebay. They are so cute, I want AAALLL the colours. I usually use super glue to put them on, as nail glue doesn't quite cut it for staying power, whereas super glue usually stays on well until I remove them with acetone.

I'm in love with my nails right now! They are the perfect mix of elegant B&W and sparkle. The Mirrorball + I Snow You Love Me glitters are so ridiculously blingy that I catch myself just staring at them all the time. This is a simple design, but I think it works really well. Other than the black and white theme, the little rhinestone in the bow complements the silver sparkly nails perfectly.

I don't have any big plans for NYE, we'll probably just watch the countdown on tv and have some drinks, but I can still get festive with my nails! What are your plans/nails looking like for NYE?

Dec 24, 2014

Just wanted to do a quick post on the December Beauty Box 5! It's a fun one, with pretty polish and some yummy scented stuff.

He are my thoughts on a few of the products in this month's box:

I love the Lucky Number 6 perfume, it's a really nice floral scent which isn't too heavy. I've been thinking about getting a new perfume so this came at a perfect time. I can use it for a while and see if I like it enough to buy a full size one :) The Nanacoco nail polish is going to be my new years manicure, it's a colourful, festive glitterbomb. Having a little tub of nail polish remover wipes is perfect for when you're out and a nail chips, no more putting up with ugly chipped nails until you can make it home! It's in peach scent and is acetone free which means it's gentler on your skin. Lastly, the facial mist in "Rose Bouquet" smells sooooo pretty. I adore rose water and it is definitely nice to have some extra hydration in the dry winter months.

This month's box is a winner for me, I absolutely love all the gorgeous scents and of course the nail stuff.

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas if you celebrate and happy holidays to everyone else!

Oct 20, 2014

As I was perusing the aisles of Walgreens, looking for the ever elusive Sinful Shine Prosecco nail polish (if you haven't heard of it, it's a limited edition greige beauty with a gorgeous golden shimmer), I happened across this stunning limited edition Wet n Wild Mega Rocks polish: Rising Star. It was in a special section with other limited edition Wet n Wild Fall polishes and makeup. I can honestly say I own nothing like it, so I picked it up and took it home to put on right away.

Can I just stop a minute to gush about how much I LOVE this beauty??

This polish is supposedly a dupe for Maybelline Gilded Rose and although I don't own Gilded Rose, from online swatches I think they are very close. Rising Star may be a little less yellow gold and more of a silvery pink rose gold, but otherwise I believe they are almost identical.

I am so in love with this polish, I used it twice in a row which is almost unheard of for me. AND I even put it on my toes and gave my BOFA a mani with it. It went on beautifully in 2 careful coats. I say careful because if you drag the brush too much, you might end up picking up some of the glitter underneath and leaving bald spots. Using a light hand on the brush, I got perfect coverage quite easily. The wear was pretty good, I wore it for 4 days with no chipping, but just be careful not to do super thick coats.

If pretty rose gold glitter is your thing, then RUN don't walk to your nearest Walgreens and pick up this beauty before she's gone.

Beauty blogger, part time emcee, full time mama, anime nerd, gyaru & ulzzang fan. I love Japanese & Korean food, culture, fashion, beauty, music and tv dramas. Always trying something new, (slightly) self obsessed and in love with cosmetics, technology and photography. A Eurasian Australian living and loving in sunny Southern California.

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